It is kind of funny to say this. But let us all agree that our clothes are very bossy. They all come with a little tag telling us what to do, how to do it, and how much to do. We are already spending a fortune to buy those clothes. Isn't it cruel that they are ordering us to do Fabric care, dry cleaning, cold washing, spot washing, and so much more? They can't choose what we have to do with our clothes.
But why do they do this? Why are they putting us in a place where it sucks our time and energy to clean them to make them fresh and ready to wear? Because each fabric is unique and reacts differently when introduced to heat, cold, and other chemicals. But don't worry. We've got your back. You are about to learn ten easy and fast tips to keep your fabric fresh, clean, and always ready to wear. Let us dig in.
Why is it Important to Study Fabric Care?
Some clothes are easy to care for, while some require time-consuming princesses to clean and maintain. Fabric care ensures the shelf life of the fabric. As we saw in the above section, each fabric reacts differently when facing heat, cold, etc.; now, see why and how each fabric is different.
- Cotton: It is breathable, comfortable, and sustainable as well. But the downside is that it shrinks easily. So you need to wash it with cold water and iron on medium heat. Cotton is prone to wrinkles, so never put it in the dryer. Always air-dry it.
- Wool: They are soft, comforting, and warm. You have to wash it in cold water to prevent its softness. Also, make sure to use detergents specifically made for wool fabric care.
- Silk: It's luxurious clothing, but it is not a good idea to take them carelessly. You should dry clean and dry it flat. If you find dry cleaning is expensive, take time to do gentle cleaning with a soft fabric cleaner.
- Cashmere: It requires dry cleaning as well. Never wring or twisting the fabric to avoid wrinkles. If the fabric bleeds colour, make sure you wash it with a little vinegar in cold water.
- Synthetic fabric care: Fabrics like polyester, and nylon can be washed in the washing machine. You can use bothcold and hot water as it has the same effect.
When cleaning your clothes, never wrinkle them harshly or overload your dryer. It can lead to shrinkage. Always store your clothes properly, neatly folded and tucked in your wardrobe. Understanding each fabric and washing it properly according to the guidance can increase the life span of the fabric.
Now, Let's Move on to the Fabric Care Tips!
Congratulate yourself, with these tips, every one of your old clothes will get a redo and be fresh and crisp, again. So without any chit-chatting, let us get into it straight.
1. Use Cold Water to wash: From heavy dungarees to delicate cotton, cold water is a charm to clean your clothes. Nowadays, almost all washing machines are built with technologies that can handle cold water. Using cold water can work well for strong odors and smells. Cold water reduces wrinkles and shrinkage. Washing in the cold reduces your fabric's ageing process.
2. Fold your clothes properly: Folding fabrics as soon as you dry the clothes can avoid the possibility of any wrinkles. Should I tell you more benefits of folding your clothes? Okay, here you go. They make your home neat and clean, organize your wardrobe, declutter your space, and increase your peace.
3. Spot clean immediately: Tend to the stains immediately. This way, you are controlling the damage and avoiding the possibility of overwashing. Just drop a little baking soda and lemon concoction on the stain, brush it lightly, and wash it with cold water. Ta-da. It's gone. You are saving time, energy, and electricity costs as well.
4. Embrace ironing: Let us all agree ironing is therapeutic. When you take that wrinkled cloth and work your way to remove all those wrinkles and make it crisp and fresh, it brings you a sense of satisfaction. Ironing restores the fit and shape of the garment.
5. Use Starch: Switching from detergents to starch wash can make the clothes crisp and straight out of the store. Starts don't have harsh chemicals and are plant-based. This means your clothes don't have to face any chemicals while cleaning.
6. Wash Inside Out: We all do this. Washing clothes inside out avoids the risk of booking patterns and designs. Designs like foil and prints can disappear when washed straight. Washing inside and out removes the possibility of fading.
7. Use Mesh Bags: Delicate clothes like cashmere, silk, wool, etc, need a mesh bag. A mesh bag avoids any possible damage from the machine washing your clothes. They protect your clothes from any tangling and damage to embellishments and accessories.
8. Never look at detergents: Detergents are becoming expensive and loaded with chemicals and harsh fragrances. Turning to the age-old detergent recipes works like a charm to reduce the wear and tear of your fabric.
9. Don't load your laundry basket: Loading your laundry baskets can increase shrinkage, wrinkles, odour, and, of course, stress. Do batch cleaning every week. Although laundry can be a lot of work, it can also be therapeutic.
10. Don't overload your dryer: Overloading the dryer hurts your washing machine and fabric as well. Overloading is very unhealthy for your delicate clothes. Instead of using a dryer, try dry cleaning with menial heat or flat dry or air dry to prevent your clothes from any possible damage.
Conclusion:
Fast fashion is increasingly becoming a trend, which is why Fabric care is important. India is producing a whopping amount of 7800 kilotonnes of textile waste annually. It is time we make a smart decision to stop contaminating our environment. There are always healthy options you can choose from once you ditch the unhealthy and contaminating products. For example, Ditching artificially made clothes for natural and sustainably made clothing like Rimore.
These small choices make a huge differences in the long run. It is us, for Earth, against the pollution. Smart choices are a must.